OT students help raise food for community's hungry

Dec. 10, 2003

KALAMAZOO--Occupational therapy students at Western Michigan
University put their canned food where their mouths were on Nov.
22.

That's when the Student Occupational Therapy Association collected
non-perishable food and other items during the Occupational Therapy
Holiday Dinner Dance. This was the first year that students collected
items for the needy as part of the annual event. In all, 153
donations of non-perishable food and personal grooming and hygiene
products were gathered. About 100 people attended the dance.

The donations were given to the Salvation Army food pantry
on South Burdick Street in Kalamazoo.

The students plan to stage another food-raiser in combination
with the dance next year, says David Orchanian, an academic career
specialist and advisor to the students.

"The Salvation Army was very appreciative," says
Orchanian, who credits association president Jenny Murphy with
spearheading the donation drive. "We're going to try to
double the goal next year."